Dispensing closure



Ju. 27, 1931. E. R. BROWNSQN 1,789,955

DI SPENSING CLOSURE Filed Jan. 22, 1929 MEA/To@ E. Eay'row/wof? C2 ATTOZNEYS V Patented Jan. 27, 1231'4 UNITED STATES EDWARD RAY BROWN SON, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFGRNIA DISPENSING CLOSURE Application led January 22, 1929. Serial No. 334,237.

smooth and uninterrupted operation of the` movable elements even in thev dispensing of granular and plastic substances, dry and moistened.

I will describe only one form of dispensing closure embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a view showing in side elevation one form of dispensing closure embodying my invention in applied position to a container; l

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the dispensing closure shown in Fig. 1 and in closed position;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the closure in open position;

Fig. 4 is a. sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view showing in plan the shutter element embodied in the closure.

In carrying out my invention, I provide an inverted cup-shaped cap designated generally at C, and constituting one of the main elements o the closure. This cap includes a collar 15 which, as illustrated to advantage in Fig. 4, is .interiorly screw-threaded to permit of its application to the conventional screw spout 16 of a container K, the container illustrated in Fig. 1 being the conventional tocth paste tube formed of leX- ible metal to permit of its being compressed to eje lt the paste from the spout. At the top of the collar 15 is a head 17 provided centrally with an elongated opening 18 5 through which the contents of the container K vare adapted to be dispensed. On the periphery of the head is a flange 19 which projects laterally from the upper end of the collar 15 and provides a mounting for a cover member C on which such member is adapted to rotate. 0 v

Intel-posed between the cap C and the cover member C is a shutter element C2 relatively thin to produce a knife edge, and pivoted on a pin 20. This pin 20 is fixed in and projects upwardly fro'm the. flange 19, and, in addition to providing a pivot for the element C2, functions as a stop for the element C to limit the'latter in its rotational move-- ment. The element C2 is provided with an elongated opening 21 corresponding in shape and size to that 'of the opening 18, and this opening 21 is adapted to align and disalign with respect to the opening 18 according as the element C2 is swung in one direction or the other. To actuate the element C2, the cover member, or element C', is provided.

This member, as previously described, is ro-l tatable on the :aange 19, and is of substantially disk orm with its periphery provided with an interrupted arcuate lip 22 that is bent downwardly and inwardly to embrace the edge of the flange 19 so as to confine the cover member on the flange and yet permit rotation thereof. The lip 22 is interrupted for the purpose of accommodating the pivot pin 20, and, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the cover member between the ends of the lip 22 is-shaped to provide a recessed portion having shoulders 23. These shoulders are adapted to abut the pin 20 and thus limit rotational movement of the cover member in either direction on the cap.

The cover member is provided centrally with a circular opening 24 which is at all times aligned with the opening 18 of the cap C, but which registers therewith only whenv the opening 21 of the element C2 is in alignment therewith. Bv rotation of the cover member the shutter C2 is adapted to be swung to cause its opening 21 to move into or out of* registration with the opening 18, and through the provision of an operative connection which, in the present instance, comprises a pin 25 on the shutter C2 operating in a slot 26 of the member CA. The position- I ing of the pin 25 on the shutter is such that when the cover member is rotated the shutter -is swung in one direction or the other about the pin 20 as a center, depending upon the direction of rotation of the cover member. From a consideration of Figs. 2 and 3, it will be clear that with the cover member in the extreme position illustrated in Fig. 2, and as defined by one of the shoulders 23 abutting the pin 20, the shutter C2 is in a position in ythis position of the shutter, it will be clear that the contents of the container K can be dispensed through the closure. As the shutter reaches this open position further rotation of the cover member is checked by the other shoulder 23 abutting the pin 20. This prevents the possibility of the cover member being rotated too far, and the openings 18 and 21 out of registration.

In the foregoing' operation. it will be clear that the closure member C is operable to actuate the shutter C2 to open or close the opening 18 according as the cover member is rotated in one direction or the other. As previously stated, the shutter is relatively thin to provide a substantially lknife-like edge, both at its periphery and around the wall of the opening 21, its extreme thinness and knife-like edges permitting a very compact arrangement of the elements C, C, and C2, to preclude the substances being dispensed from accumulating between the elements and interfering with movement ofthe elements C and C2, it being understood that the knifelike edges of the shutter will operate to cut away any substances which may lodge in the path of movement of the shutter.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of dispensing closure embodying my invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made herein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the spiritand scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1.v A dispensing closure comprising an inverted cup-shaped element the top of which is formed with an opening and a peripheral flange, a second element having an opening and pivoted on the flange to occupy one eX- treme position in which the opening thereof is in registration with the opening of the first element and another extreme position in which it is out of registration therewith, a third element embracing the flange to rotate thereon and assume two extreme positions and having an opening constantly aligned with the opening of the first element and adapted to register with the opening of the second element only when in one extreme position, and a connection between the second and third elements by which when the third element is rotated to one extreme position the second element is moved to cause its` opening to register with the openings of the first and third elements while when rotated to the other extreme position the second element is moved so that its opening is out of registration with the openings of the first and third elements.

2. A dispensing closure for containers comprising a cap having an opening, an element pivotally mounted on the cap and having an opening therein, a second element rotatable on the cap and having an opening therein in registration with the cap opening, and an operative connection between the elements by which rotation of the second element moves the first element to cause its opening to align or disalign with respect to the cap opening according as the second element is rotated in one direction or the other.

A dispensing closure comprising a-cap having an opening therein, a shutter for the opening pivoted on the cap, a cover member for the shutter rotatable on the cap and having an opening, and a connection between the shutter and cover member by which rotation of the cover member actuates the shutter to open or close the openings of the cap and cover member according as the cover member is rotated in one direction or the other.

4. A dispensing closure as embodied in claim 3 wherein means is provided for definitely limiting the rotational movements of the cover member and the pivotal movements of the shutter.

5. A dispensing closure as embodied in claim 3 wherein means is provided on the cover member engageable with the pivot for the shutter to limit rotational movement of the cover member.

6. A dispensing closure comprising an inverted cup-shaped element the top of which is formed with an opening and a peripheral flange, a second element flat and relatively thin having an opening and pivoted on the flange to occupy one extreme position in which the opening thereof is in registration with the opening of the first element and another eXtreme position in which said openingsI are out of registration, a third element having a peripheral lip embracing the flange to rotatably mount the third element on the flange, the third element having an opening constantly aligned with the opening of the first element, a slot in the third element, and a pin on the second element, engaging within the slot so that when the third element is rotated the second element will be moved to one extreme position or the other depending upon the direction of rotation of the third element.

7. A dispensin closure comprising an inverted cup-shaped element the top of which is formed with an opening1 and a peripheral flange, a second element at and relatively thin having an opening and pivoted on the flange to occu y one extreme position in which the opemng thereof is in registration with the opening of the first element and another extreme position in which said openings are out of registration, a third elementI having a peripheral lip embracing the iiange to rotatably mount the third element on the fiange, the third element having an opening constantly aligned with the opening ofthe first element, a slot in the th1rd element, a pin on the second element engaging Within the slot so that when the thlrd element is rotated the second element will be moved to one extreme position or the other depending upon the direction of rotation of the third element, said lip being interrupted to accommodate the pivot for the second element, and shoulders on the third element adapted to abut the pivot for the second element to limit rotational movement of the third element in either direction.

8. A dispensing closure comprising a cap having an opening, an element pivotally mounted on the cap and having an opening therein, a second element movable on the cap and having an opening therein in registration With thefcap opening, and an operative connection between the elements by which movement of the second element swings the first element in one direction or the other to cause its opening to align or disalign with respect to the openings of the cap and second element.

Signed at Los `Angeles in the county of Los Angeles and State of California this 3d day of January, A. D. 1929.

EDWARD RAY BROWNSON. 

